Jewel grinding and polishing machine.



PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

G. H. ALTON. JEWEL GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WI IIUWII I 'o tt PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

-G. H. ALTON. I JEWEL GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10, 1904.

3 SEBETS-SHEET 2 Invent. or,

PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

G. H. ALTON. JEWEL GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Georgehkefi lion, M M

operators. Moreover, the size and shape of and bed I Improvements in Jewel commonly used as bearings for the shafts of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ALTON, OF LYNN MASSACHUSETTS, vASSIGrNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

JEWEL GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

10 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful.

Grindin and Polishing Machines, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for grinding and polishing jewels, and particularly for forming in a sapphire or other jewel a cup adapted to receive and support the end of a rotary shaft, suchcupped ewels being electric meters and measuring instruments and similar delicate devlces.

In the work of cupping and polishin supports the jewel.

jewels as commonly done by hand the jewe is held in a chuck on a rotary spindle and is a very expensive operation, as the nature of the work is such that it requires considerable time and can be done only by highly-skilled the cu s made in this way are not as uniform as is desired, and a large percentage of the cupped jewels has to be rejected on inspection-because of imperfections.

The obj ect' of my invention is to provide a machine for doing this work automatically, grindin the cups uniform, accurate, and free from al flat spots, teats, or scratches and pohshin them to a gla'ze. I find that by the use of t e machine the cost of the cupped jewels is greatly reduced, as the work can be done faster, several machines may be run by one operator, cheap labor may be employed,

the consumption of the expensive'diamond-powde'r is reduced.

My invention consists in the combination of two rotary spindles, one adapted to support the jewel and the other provided with a chuck to hold the grinding or polishing tool and pressed forward in lts bearings by a weight or spring in a direction to hold the tool firmly a ainst the jewel. In order that all parts of t e cup may be ound true and hi hlypolished, it is essentiaI that the tool be' against the j ewel'at an a le to the axis of the jewel-supportin spin dIe, for if the spindles were in axial a inement there would be no movement of the end of the tool on the center of the cup and only a slight movement on the ortion immediately around the center, and t e bottom of the cup would be force the oil from the bottom of t e imperfectly ground and insufficiently polished. Itherefore so arrange the parts of my machine that the two spindles may be supported with their axes intersecting at somewhat of an angle, preferably about forty-five degrees, and sup ort the jewel with the center of the cup t erein coinciding with this point of intersection. Instead of holding the tool always in one position, however, I consider it preferable to move the polishingstick around while operating upon the jewel, and I therefore pivot the frame for the spindle which carries the tool on a line eXten in through the center of the cup in the jewel an arrange devices to rock this frame back and forth across the axis of the spindle which By this construction all parts of the cup are treated practically uniformly, and the danger of grooving the cup, or double cup ing, as it is termed, is avoided. In ad ition to the spring or wei ht which presses the tool-carrying spindle orward axially to hold jewel, I utilize the elasticity of the spindle itself for this purpose, also, by locating the bearings for the spindle atadistance from the tool. In polishing the jewels it is necessary to use an oil charged with fine diamondpowder, and I therefore supply a device for eedingthe oil down into the cup. As the pressure of the tool against the cu tends to cup out around the sides, I provide means for separating the tool and cup intermittently, so as to allow the oil and the diamond-powder carried thereby to flow down into the bottom again. I have found that it is entirely unnecessary to provide a chuck to hold the jewel, as the pressure of the tool a ainst the jewel is quite sufficient to hold it firmly against a plane surface, and supporting the ewel in this way is very advantageous, as the jewel will center itself with greatest accuracy. I therefore provide in the end of the jewelsupporting spindle a rece tacle somewhat larger than the jewel and against the back of this receptacle solely by the pressure of the tool, and in order to prevent wear, as far'as is possible, I make the back of this receptacle of sapphire, the friction between the two sapphire surfaces being uite sufficient to prevent slip of the jewel in t ereceptacle.

The novel features of my invention will be hold the jewel the tool against the more particularly indicated in the claims appended hereto. The details of construction and mode of operation of my machine for grinding and polishing jewels will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show the pre are sections of'the lower and upper spindles,

respectively. Figs. 8 and 9 show the positions of the tool relatively to the jewel in the extreme positions of its rocking movement; and Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the upper spindle held in the raised position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a frame having bearings 2 2 formed integral therewith for the lower s indle 3. The end of the opening in the ower bearing 2 is threaded to receive the follower-screw 4, 'held in place by a check-nut 5, and the upper end of screw 4 is cupped to receive and support the rounded lower end 6 of spindle 3. (See Fig. 6.) The upper bearing 2 1s preferably coned to receive the segments 7, held in place by a gland 8. Mounted on the spindle 3 between the two bearings 2 is a pulley 9, and rotarymotion iscommunicated to spindle 3 by a belt 10, running onthis pulley.

In the-.upper end of shaft-3 is a receptacle for the jewel 11 to be ground or polished. This receptacle is somewhat larger than the jewel and is provided with a hard end piece 12, preferably a sapphire, held in place by a coned sleeve 13. Pivoted in frame 1 on piv- 4 ots 40 on a line transverse to the axis of spincenter of the cup dle 3 and extending through the center of the cup in jewel 11 is an auxiliary frame 14, carrying the rotary spindle which holds the tool. connecting-rod 15 is pivotall-yconnected at one end to frame 14 and at the other end to a crank 16, carried by the shaft 17. Mounted on shaft 17 is a worm-wheel 18, with which worm 19 meshes, a suitable casing 20 being provided for the gears, and on the shaft 21 of the worm is a pulley 22. Rotary motion is communicated. to shaft 21 by a belt 38, running on the ulley, and by means of the gears, the crank 16, and connecting-rod 15 the frame 14 is rocked back I and forth on an axis extending through the in the jewel.

Secured in frame 14 is a bearing 23 for-the upper spindle, and below the bearing the frame is provided with a cross-piece24, which is hollowed out to form a cup,'as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. Within this cup is a collar 25,

forming a bearing forthe upper spindle, and

set-screws 26 penetrate the sides of the cup ,not rotate with the spindle. end s indle 33 is provided with a circumferrnond-powder to accurately adjust this bearing, as is best shown inFig. 3. Splined to the spindle between the two bearings is a pulley 27, and the spindle is rotated by means of a belt 28 ,run

ning on this pulley. Integral with frame 14 are arms carrying pulleys 29, by means of which belt 28 is gulded downward and over pulleys 30, carried by a member 31, pivotally mounted on the frame 1 of the machine and provided with suitable springs 32, so that the slack in the belt as the frame 14 is rocked back and forth on its axis is properly taken up. The upper end of the upper spindle 33 is cupped, as shown in Fig. 7, and a rod 34, having a spherical end resting in the cup, is supported in an extension of bearing 23 and has a weight 35 mounted thereon, so that the spindle 33 is pressed downward in its bearings by the weight, but the latter does Near its lower entia groove 36, and a set-screw 37 fits in a threaded bore in the cross-piece 24, by means of which spindle 33 may be held in a raised position, as shown in Fig. 10, in order to file the end of the tool or to remove a polished jewel. At its lower end spindle 33 is adapted to carry the tool 46, which may have a diamond set in its end for grinding, or may be a stick ofbronze, ivory, wood, or other substance for polishing, and-for this purpose the end of the spindle is rovided with a splitsleeve holder 39 of or inary construction, as shown in Fig. 7.,

Mounted on the frame 1 is an oil-pot 41-, and a wire 42, extending from the pot down into enga ement with the tool 46, forms a; capillary eed for the oil chargedwith diawhich is used in polishing the As the pressure 0 the tool against the cu gradually forces the oil from the bottom 0 the cup out around the sides, I provide means for separating the tool and jewel periodically in order to permit it to fiow back again into the bottom of the cup. Any suitable mechanism may be em loyed for this pur ose. In the drawings have shown a brac et 43-, cast integral with the oilpot 41 and bifurcated at its end to form arms which straddle the spindle 33, and raised portions 44 are provided on these arms, which engage a rounded enlargement 45, formed in s 1ndle 33, as the latter is rocked back an forth, and thus raise the tool out of engagement with the jewel.

The operation of the machine will be readil understood from the foregoing description.

cups in the jewels.

The belts 10 and 23 rotate the s indles rapidly in opposite directions. With t e upper spindle supported in a raised posi tion by the set-screw 37, as illustrated Fig.

splndle tool lowered onto the jewel. The weight 35 presses the tool against the jewel, and the work of grinding or polishing the cup begins. The rapid rotation of the jewel with the tool bearing down upon it causes the former to accurately center itself immediately and to be firmly held in position with the axis of the cup coinciding with the axis of spindle 3, and the frictional engagement between the two sapphire surfaces 11 and 12is sufiicient to prevent slip of the jewel in the rece tacle.

By reference to Fig; 1 it wil be seen that the bearing for spindle 33 is at a considerable distance from the tool and that below this bearing there is no support for the spindle and the parts are arranged to permit lateral movement thereof. The purpose of this construction is to utilize the spring action or flexibility of spindle 33 in holding the tool firmly in the bottom of the cup in the jewel. By means of the belt 38 and the parts driven thereby the frame 14, carrying the upper spindle, is rocked back and forth across the axis of the lower spindle about a center extending through the cup in the ewel, sothat the tool operates upon the jewel at various angles relatively thereto. The necessity for arranging the tool at an angle to the jewelsupporting spindle will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 8 and 9. If the tool and the lower spindle were in axial alinement, there would be insufficient movement of the end of the tool on the bottom of the cup in the ewel, which therefore would not be properly ground or polished. It is not essential,

however, that the spindle carrying the tool be rocked back and forth across the axis of .the ewel-supporting spindle, although I consider this desirable, and it must be understood that my invention covers a machine similar to that shown, in which the two spindles are permanently held at a definite angle to each other. The capillary feed device 42 keeps the jewel well supplied with oil and diamond-powder, and each time theframe14 crosses the axis of spindle 3 the enlargement 45 on spindle 33 engages the raised portions 44 on the arm of bracket 43, thus lifting the tool out of the cup in the jewel for an interval of sufiicient length to permit the oil in the cup to flow down into the bottom thereof. When the jewel has been properly ground or polished, the upper spindle is raised in its bearings and held in a raised position by the operator or by the'screw 37, and the jewel 11 is withdrawn from the end of the spindle 3 either with the fingers or with a pair of forceps and another one substituted in its place.

I have thus succeeded in producing a machine for grinding and polishing jewels automatically, and as the tool bears on all the jewels with constant pressure and is applied to all the jewels in the same manner the cups are all very nearly uniform. The rapid rotation of the jewel and tool in opposite directions makes the cups smooth and free from flat spots and polishes them to a glaze. On account of its simplicity the machine can be run by an unskilled operator, and, as it requires little attention after being started, four or five of the machines can be run by one operator at the same time, thus effecting a great reduction in the cost of the cupped jewels.

I do not wish to be understood as limited in any way to the construction illustrated and described herein, as a great many modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of my inven'tionsuch, for instance, as arranging the spindles horizontally instead of vertically, using a spring to press the tool against the cup instead of the weight which I have shown, and making other changes of like character-and all such modifications I aim to cover inthe claims appended hereto.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A machine for grinding and polishing jewel-bearings, having two spindles, means for rotating the same, a holder for a tool on one of the spindles, means for pressing said spindle axially ona line intersecting the axis ofthe other spindle with a substantially'constant pressure, and means carried by the latter spindle for supporting a jewel at said point of intersection.

2. A machine for grinding and polishing jewel bearings, comprising two spindles mounted with their axes intersecting and means for. rotating them, means carried by one spindle for supporting a jewel at said point of intersection, a holder for a tool on the other spindle, means for pressing said 'spindle axially to press the tool against the jewel, and means whereby the end of the tool is held in the bottom of the cup in the jewel.

3. A machine for grinding and polishing j ewel-bearings, comprising two relatively rotatable spindles mounted with their axes 1ntersecting, a holder for a tool on one spindle, means for pressing said spindle axially toward said point of intersection, and a plane surface on the end of the other spindle against which a ewel is held solely by the pressure of the tool thereon.

4. A machine for grinding and polishing jewel-bearings, having two spindles mounted with their axes intersecting and means for rotating them, a holder for a tool on one splndle, means for pressing said spindle axially toward said point of intersection, and a member carried by the. other spindle of the same material as that of the bearing to be ground and having a plane surface transverse to the axis of the spindle against which a jewel is held solely by the pressure of the tool thereon,

'5. A machine for grinding and polishing jewel-bearings, having two relatively rotata;

ble spindles mounted with their axes interto hold the tool against I secting,

- forward to secting, means for supporting a jewel on one spindle, a holder for a tool on the other spindle, means for pressing said spindle axially toward said point of intersection, and a device for holding said spindle in a retracted position in opposition to said pressing means. 6. A machine for grinding; and polishing jewel-bearin s, v ble spindles mounted with their axes intersecting, means for supporting a jewel on one spindle, a holder for a tool on the other spiridle, means for pressing said spindle axially the jewel, a receptacle for a fluid, and means for feeding the fluid from the receptacle into the cup in the jewel. 7. A machine for grinding and polishing 'ewel-be'arings, having two relatively rotatale spindles mounted with their axes intersecting, means for supporting a jewel on one spindle and a tool on the other, means for pressing one of the spindles axially to hold the tool against the jewel, and means for separating the tool 8. A machine for grinding and polishing 'eWel-bearings, having two relatively rotatale spindles mounted with their axes intermeans for supporting a jewel .on one spindle and a tool on 'the other, means for pressin one of the spindles axially to hold the tool against the jewel, means for feeding a fluid into the cup 1n the jewel, and means i for separating the tool and jewel intermittently. v 9. A machine for grinding and polishing jewels, havinga support for a 'ewel, a holder or a tool, means for rotating t the tool therein engaging the jewel, means for pressing one of said engaglng members hold the tool against the jewel, and means for automatically varying the angle at whichthe tool'in said holder is presented to the jewel.

10. A machine for grinding and polishing ewels, having a rotary spindle, means for sup orting a jewel thereon, a holder. for a too means for rotating said holder with the tool therein engaging the jewel, means for pressing said hplder axially to hold the tool against the jewel, and means for continu-' ously and automatically varying the angle at which the tool is presented to the jewel.

11. A machine for grindin and polishing 'ewel-bearings, having two re atively rotatale spindles, means for supporting a jewel on one ofthe spindles and a tool on the other, means for pressing one of the spindles axially to hold the tool against the jewel, and means having two relatively rotata-' *dle axial and jewel intermittently.

e holder with spindle,

.for continuously and automatically varying the angle at which the tool is presented to the jewel. v

12. A machine for grinding and polishing jewel-bearings, having "a rotary spindle,

means for supporting a jewel thereon, a pivoted frame carrying bearin s, a spindle mounted in said bearings, a ho der for a tool on said spindle, and means for simultaneously moving said frame back and forth on-its pivots automatically and rotating the spindle carried thereby. a

13. A machine for grindingand polishing jewel bearings, having a rotary spindle,

means for supporting a jewel thereon, a p1voted frame. carrying bearin s, a spindle mounted in said bearings, a ho der for a tool on said s indle, means for pressing said spiniy to hold the tool against the jewel, and means for simultaneously rocking said frame on its 'pivots and rotating the spindle v carried thereby.

14. A machine for grinding and polishin jewel-bearings, a frame pivoted on an axis p'assin throug the center of the cup in a jewel he d in said support, a holder for a tool carried by said frame, means for pressing said holder axially, means for rocking the frame, and meansfor rotatin the holder.

15. machine for grinding and polishing jewel-bearings, comprising a rotary spindle, means for supporting a jewel thereon, a frame pivoted on an axis passing through the center of the cup in a jewel su portedon said a tool-holding spind e carried by the frame, means for pressing said spindle axially to hold the tool against the jewel, means-for rocking the frame, and means for rotating said tool-holding s indle.,

16. A machine or grinding and polishing jewels, having a support for a jewel, a holder for a .tool, means or rotating the holder, means whereby the tool is pressed against the jewel, means for automatically varyingthe angle "at which the tool is presented to the jewel, a rece tacle for a polishing agent,

said agent from ,the recepand means for -automatic'- means for fee I in tacle to the jewe ally separating the tool and jewel intermittently. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of May, 1904.

GEORGE, H. ALTON. Witnesses ,DUG'ALD MoK. McK'rtLor, I GEORGE S. Jamnson f having a support for a jewel, 

